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(N0 ModeL) B. F. KENLY.

DUCK SHOOTING BLIND.

Patented Apr. 7, 1885.

WITNESSES:

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Attornev.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN F. KENLY, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

DUCK-SHOOTING BLIND.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 315,297, dated April 7,1885.

Application filed January 28, 1585. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN F. KENLY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Duck- Shooting Blinds, of which thefollowing is a specification.

My invention relates to an improved duckshooting blind.

The object of the invention is to provide a float to lie fiat on thesurface of the water,and having a tub submerged below the float toafford ambush for one or more gunners.

The invention is illustratedinthe accompanying drawings, in which Figurel is a top view of the apparatus. Fig. 2 is a side View in section. Fig.3 is an end view. Fig. 4 is a detail of the metal plate which securesthe tub. Fig. 5 is a View of the tub detached from the raft.

The float consists of a deck or raft, A, composed of four pieces oftimber, b c, placed so as to form a square frame, and two crosspieces,d, spaced apart, but extending across the frame somewhere near itscenter. Boards 0 are nailed 011 top,so as to cover this frame and formthe deck.

About in the center of the deck or raft, and between the twocross-pieces cl, is an opening. A watertight tub, F, which is smalleracross the bottom than the top, is shaped so that its top willaccurately fit within the said opening and between the two cross-pieces.At opposite sides of its top the tub has metal plates 9, two on eachside, making four in all, bolted within its sides securely. The tops ofthese plates 9 are bent at a right angle, and project over the rim ofthe tub and rest horizontally on the deck or raft. A slot, h, is in theright-angled top part of each plate. A bolt, J, has in its head an eye,It, and is fixed vertically in the cross-piece d by a nut,Z,at its lowerend. The head and eye of the bolt project above the crosspiece. Foursuch bolts are employed, and when the tub is in position the slot h ofeach plate comes over a bolt-head, which latter projects up through theslot. A short pin, m, passes through the eye, and thereby the tub ismade fast to the raft. It will be seen the tub is kept submerged belowthe raft, while the tub may be detached and entirely removed from theraft at any time by drawing the pins m, whereupon the tub will risethrough the opening in the raft. One side of the tub inclines, whereby,as already stated, the bottom is made smaller than the top,whichfacilitates attaching the tub to the raft. A seat, 02, for the gunner isattached to the inclined side, which latter thereby serves as acomfortable support for the gunners back to rest against. A rack, o,madeof slats, is in the bottom of the tub and serves for the gunner to standupon, keeping his feet from any dampness or waterthat may happen to bein the bottom. On the surface of the deck, at each side of thetub-opening, a board, 1), is hinged. These may be termed storm-flaps.They may lie fiat on the raft-surface, asin Figs. 1 and 2, or, if thewater is rough, may be turned up edgewise, thereby forming a curb orguard about the tub, as seen in Fig. 3. \Vhen turned up edgewise, theyare held by hooks and eyes at the corners, a hook on one engaging withan eye on the adjoining one. In this position the hinged boards orstormfiaps prevent any water which floods the surface of the raft fromentering the tub. A cover, q, when the float is not in use,*may beplaced over the storm-flaps and secured by a hasp and padlock, r. Thiscover prevents rain from filling the tub, and also serves to keepintruders or unauthorized persons from using it. At one or more sides ofthe raft splashboards S are hinged, and are adapted to float on thewater. In the present instance two boards are united by hinges. As theseboards are hinged, they will yield or give to the motion of the waterand prevent the noise which would be occasioned by the splashing of thewater over the sides. Strips T, of sheet-lead or other metal, have oneedge, u, fastened to the deck by tacks driven along the edge. Theother,which is the outermost edge, is free, and may be bent upward alittle and to serve as a guard to keep the slight ripples of water from9 flowing over the deck into the tub without projecting above thedeck-surface enough to interfere with the view of'the gunner who is inthe tub. The two strips shown are arranged so as to form a V across thedeck, thus guarding one side of the tub. In like manner two more leadstrips may be used across the deck on the other side of the tub.

It will be seen that any shaped tub may be used-that is, it maybesquare, round, or oblong. The floating raft and tub attached thereto soas to be kept submerged, and provided with the adjuncts namedto wit, thestormflaps, cover, splash boards, and sheetlead guard-stripsconstitute avery complete arrangement for the purpose.

Having described myinvention, I claim and desire to secure by LettersPatent of the United States- 1. A floating blind having, in combination,

. a flat deck or raft provided with an opening,

and a water-tight tub smaller across the bottom than the top, andentered through the raftopening from the upper side and made fasttherein, substantially as set forth, whereby the tub may be detachedfrom the raft by allowing it to rise through the said opening, as setforth. I

2. A floating blind having, in combination, a flat deck or raft providedwith an opening, andawater-tight tub smalleracross the bottom than thetop, and having one side straight and the opposite side inclined andmade fast in the said raft-opening, and provided on the inclined sidewith a seat, as set forth.

3. In a floating blind, the combination of a flat deck or raft having anopening, and provided with bolts having a projecting head, and asubmerged tub having position within said opening, and provided withmetal plates, each having a slot to take over one of the said boltheads,as set forth.

4. In a floating blind, the combination of a fiat deck or raft having anopening,with an attached tub below the opening, and hinged boards orstorm-flaps at each side of the opening, as set forth.

5. In a floating blind, the combination of a flat deck or raft having anopening, with an attached tub below the opening,hinged boards orstorm-flaps at each side of the opening, and a cover fitted over saidstorm-flaps, as set forth.

In testimony whereof Iaffix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

BENJAMIN F. KENLY.

Witnesses:

WM. B. NELSON, JOHN E. MORRIS.

